Month: November 2007

bags, craft, sewing

Chestnut Hill Bag

Another Christmas present completed!  The Chestnut Hill Bag, made from Joel Dewberry fabric.  It is so handy when fabrics come ready-coordinated for you!

The pattern is Vogue 7812 – which may now be out of print.  I’ve used this pattern before, and the resulting bags are a nice size and shape.  Here’s the inside:

Magnetic catch closure; internal zip pocket on one side; patch pocket and key fob on the other.

I added purse/bag feet and used fast-to-fuse to make a sturdier bag base.

As usual, the exterior has interfacing and pellon to provide structure, while maintaining a soft appearance.  The silver rings on the handles add a nice touch too. 

I think I’m finally on the homeward stretch with holiday sewing – but there’s still lots more to do!

by thornberry
fabric stash

I’m developing a good friendship with the parcel delivery contractor

The parcel delivery contractor is a lovely man.  Good thing too, because we see him on a regular basis!  The latest arrivals:

You can probably guess where they’re from: Z & S Fabrics.

Here’s the more detailed fabric eye candy.

Oh how I love those Amy Butler prints (top photo, right hand side)!  They’re even nicer in real life!  I ordered most of these fabrics in clothing quantities rather than 1/2 yard for crafting.

Vow for December: NO ONLINE FABRIC SHOPPING.

by thornberry
children's clothing, craft, kids clothing, sewing, wardrobe refashion

Dress-ups

I stumbled across this post while wandering through the blogosphere – and inspiration struck!  Thirty minutes, a headband and an old curtain later, we had this:

Who’s a happy girl?  She’s been asking for a veil for ages – and since there was plenty of curtain left, I thought that a matching skirt wouldn’t go astray.  But is she a little young for bridal indoctrination?

by thornberry
bags, craft, sewing

Would you like this bag if you were a teenage boy?

Well, let’s hope that teenage boys do like bags like this one – it’s a Christmas present for my nephew (who is pretty unlikely to be reading his aunt’s craft & sewing blog).

Yes, it’s more of the Ikea fabric.  The pattern is the large Slouch bag by Nicole Mallalieu.  The outer fabric has been fused with wadding, there are interior pockets and key fob, and the adjustable strap is made from webbing.

Here’s the other side:

Guys have things that they need to carry in bags too, I figured!  There’s plenty of room inside for his stuff, and the adjustable strap and soft shape make it easy to wear across the body while cycling.  Fingers crossed that he likes it!

Edited to add:  He REALLY liked it!  Wow!  What a success!  I’m so pleased.

by thornberry
apron, aprons, baby, children's clothing, craft, kids clothing, sewing

Bevy of bibs

More Christmas presents completed.  Yay!  A bevy of bibs!  Warning: there are lots of photos in this blog post!  From the front:

And the back:

These are all from a fantastic free pattern and tutorial from Nicole Mallalieu Design – the Fabulous Fifties bib.  I used fabric from my stash, backed with either flannelette or towelling (both also from my stash from when I made fitted nappies for Clare).  They’re all bound in bias binding, some bought and some I made myself.  (Don’t look too closely though – I ran out of bias for one of the bibs so it isn’t quite finished yet – on my to-do list for tomorrow).  The pattern also has the option for a front pocket.  I like this style because of the coverage it provides – and because it’s cute!

And for some close-ups of the front and back:

Four are for gifts; the others will be for Miss Stella.  We asked her to choose which she’d like.

Wow, look at all these bibs!  Which would I like?  Hmmmm

I think that this one looks good!

Yes, I’ll have this one please!

by thornberry
adult's clothing, craft, crochet

Another Boteh Scarf

Would you have thought it possible?  It’s another Boteh Scarf!

Oh how I hope that the intended recipient of this Christmas gift doesn’t read my blog regularly!  I was able to persuade another friend to model it for me.

This time it’s in 8 ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills.  The finished result is much lighter and softer than the scarves crocheted in Bamboozle. 

I’m a little over the Boteh scarf for the moment.  Three in three months is plenty.  I had intended to do another as a Christmas gift, but I’ve run out of steam – time to change that plan to something else!

Enjoy election evening all of you in Australia – I’m going upstairs to do some sewing while I watch the results coming in!

by thornberry
bags, craft, sewing

Crinoid bags

Hubby thinks that the print on these bags look like crinoids.

I thought they looked more like nerve synapses.

The fabric is from – you guessed it – Ikea.  The pattern is the pleated_tote by artsy crafty babe.  Thanks so much!  There are interior pockets on one side and a key fob.  Each bag has a contrasting lining and pocket.  I should have taken some photos of the inside, I suppose!

Two are destined to be thank-you gifts for Miss Clare’s kinder teachers.  There are only another four weeks or so of kinder left!  The other is a Christmas present for a close friend – who luckily does not read this blog.

But we’re not sure which bag to give to which person!

We went to Miss Clare’s primary school today to try on and order uniforms for next year – she started prep orientation last week – I can’t quite believe that my little girl will be a schoolgirl so soon!  She looked so adorable in her uniform – and I felt very emotional.

by thornberry
crochet, planned projects, yarn stash

Yarn stash increases

This lot arrived today.

The pink wool/cotton/lycra mix is for a cardigan for Clare; the lemon cotton is for a short-sleeved lacy top for Clare; the green cotton is for a lacy jacket for me; the purple cotton is for a short-sleeved top for me; the orange wool is for yet another top for me; the cream cotton will eventually become a blanket for Stella.

I’ll be crocheting forever.

by thornberry
chenille, craft, sewing, tutorials

Cushions for Christmas

Four done!  Two of these are Christmas presents; the bottom two are for me (yes, I know, I don’t need them, but I do love that chenille and those fabrics).

Although the recipients of the top two cushions don’t read this blog, their mother does – so I won’t show them in all their glory until after Christmas.

But here are the other two!  One side:

And the other:

Once again I used the fantastic tutorial from house on hill road for the zippers.  I prefer to have cushion covers that can be removed for washing.  The vintage chenille is from Jodie, of course, the apple fabric was from Spotlight ages ago, and I think that the fabric with the elegant ladies is by Michael Miller.  Cushion covers are so satisfying to make! 

by thornberry
bags, craft, fabric stash, planned projects, sewing, WIP, work in progress

Nine new projects (um, no, just recounted, it’s thirteen)

Oh wow, I really meant it when I took that Handmade pledge (see button in sidebar) this Christmas!  I have NINE THIRTEEN (I just recounted and had missed four) projects cut out ready to make.  And that’s not all I need to make!

Whatever was I thinking?  How many weeks left until Christmas?  It’s been a cutting out marathon, and now I have a LOOOOONG list of notions to buy today so that I can get to work on these (you know, zips, more interfacing, buttons, thread, etc etc etc).  I reckon that when making bags I spend more on the wadding, interfacing, zips, clips etc than I do on the fabric!

Speaking of fabric, this lot arrived this week (edited to add: from Z&S Fabrics again).

At this rate of online shopping I will have to return to work from maternity leave earlier than I’d like!

by thornberry
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